Synonyms: Chinese caterpillar mushroom, Tibetan caterpillar mushroom, Jartsa gunbu, caterpillar club mushroom, Ophiocordyceps sinensis
Ingredients: Polysaccharides, ergosterol, nucleoside derivatives (cordycepin), sterols
Distribution and habitat in nature: It grows exclusively on caterpillars of the genus Thitarodes in the plateaus of Tibet between 3,000 and 5,000 m.
Use: Medicinal mushroom
Traditional areas of application:
- Anti-aging (2)
- increase athletic (3-8) and sexual (9-15) performance
- Diabetes (1, 16-20)
- Liver strengthening (21,22)
- Kidney strengthening (1)
- stimulates steroid (23) and testosterone production (24)
Studies in rodents have shown that Cordyceps sinensis can improve brain function in aging and antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as sexual functions. Traditionally, Cordyceps has always been recommended for the elderly and convalescents. Especially in old age, Cordyceps is able to improve oxygen absorption, lung function and states of exhaustion. Brain and cardiovascular function could also be significantly improved in experiments with extracts (see Cordyceps sinensis (2) ).
Animal studies have shown that Cordyceps sinensis inhibits liver fibrosis and helps restore liver function. Over a period of 90 days, a 70% reduction in AST values and a 64% reduction in GGT were achieved using Cordyceps sinensis in 14 steatosis patients (see Cordyceps sinensis (21, 22) ).
The Chinese medal shower at the Olympic Games in the 1990s sparked keen interest in the performance-enhancing effects characteristic of Cordyceps. In 1996, a study was conducted on marathon runners using Cordyceps sinensis and a close relative, C. militaris, resulting in athletic improvements in 71% of participants. A study on older people showed a significant improvement in energy balance and oxygen absorption capacity (see Cordyceps sinensis (3 - 6) ).
Cordyceps sinensis is traditionally used as a remedy for male sexual hypofunction or female libido disorders. In animal experiments it was clearly shown that Cordyceps increased the level of male sex hormones and increased sperm quality and number. A positive effect on steroid production could be demonstrated in vitro (see Cordyceps sinensis (9 - 13) ).
Scientists of our time have analyzed its ingredients and confirmed numerous effects. In addition to vitamins and trace elements, the caterpillar fungus contains essential amino acids and high-quality polysaccharides. In addition, ingredients such as cordycepin, ophicordin and galactomannan make this mushroom so incredibly interesting. Athletes also use them because they are not banned as doping agents. Athletes in Asian cultures have long used Cordyceps to increase energy and endurance. In 1993, five world running records were broken by the same team at the Chinese National Championships in Beijing. When asked by reporters, Ma Junren, the coach of this team, revealed that his athletes owed their strength and endurance to the Cordyceps mushroom.
The effects of these mushrooms that are interesting for humans are documented in Chinese herbal books that are up to 2,000 years old. Cordyceps species, especially C. sinensis and C. militaris, are said to strengthen the life energy “Qi”.
The genetic profile of our Cordyceps corresponds exactly to that of the wild one and is bred under conditions that it also finds in its natural habitat.
Scientific studies on Cordyceps sinensis:
1) Medicinal value of the caterpillar fungi species of the genus Cordyceps (Fr.) Link (Ascomycetes). A Review. Holliday J, Cleaver M. Int J Med Mushr, 2008;10(3):219–234.
2) Antiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract. Ji DB, Ye J, Li CL, Wang YH, Zhao J, Cai SQ Phytother Res. 2009;23(1):116-22.
3) Increased aerobic capacity in healthy elderly humans given a fermentation product of Cordyceps CS-4. Xiao, Y.; Huang, XZ; Chen, G.; Wang, MB; Zhu, J.S.; Cooper, CB FACSM Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: May 1999 – Volume 31 – Issue 5 – p S174
4) Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and assessment of fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in enhancing aerobic capacity and respiratory function of the healthy elderly volunteers. Xiao Y, Huang XZ and Zhu JS Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2004;10,3:187-192
5) Effect of medicinal plant extracts on forced swimming capacity in mice. Jung K, Kim IH, Han D. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jul;93(1):75-81.
6) CordyMax enhances aerobic capability, endurance performance, and exercise metabolism in healthy, mid-age to elderly sedentary humans. JS Zhu, JM Rippe – Gerontology, 2001
7) Cordyceps Sinensis Supplementation Does Not Improve Endurance Performance in Competitive Cyclists. Parcell AC, Smith JM, Schulthies SS, Myrer JW, Fellingham G. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: 2002;34(5):231
8) Does Cordyceps sinensis Ingestion Aid Athletic Performance? TB Walker. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 2006
9) Effect of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on sperm production, sperm motility and hormones in Sprague-Dawley rats. Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(5):849-59.
10) In vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of Cordyceps sinensis on testosterone production in mouse Leydig cells. Life Sci. 2003 Sep 5;73(16):2127-36.
11) Influence of Cordyceps Sinensis on Reproduction and Testis Morphology in Mice. Shenzhen Journal of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. 2005-6
12) Improvement of sperm production in subfertile boars by Cordyceps militaris supplement. Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(4):631-41.
13) Estrogenic Substances from the Mycelia of Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps ophioglossoides (Ehrh.) Fr. (Ascomycetes). Hirokazu Kawagishi, Kentaro Okamura, Fumio Kobayashi, Noriko Kinjo. IntJMedMushr.v6.i3.40 2004
14) Upregulation of Steroidogenic Enzymes and Ovarian 17β-Estradiol in Human Granulosa-Lutein Cells by Cordyceps sinensis Mycelium. Biology of Reproduction May 1, 2004 vol. 70 no. 5 1358-1364
15) The Co-effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Strontium on Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Osteopenic Rats. Qi W, Yan YB, Wang PJ, Lei W. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 May 5.
16) Hypoglycemic Activity of a Polysaccharide (CS-F30) from the Cultural Mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis and Its Effect on Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Liver. Kiho T, et al. Biol Pharm Bull. Feb1996;19(2):294-96.
17) Structural Features and Hypoglycemic Activity of a Polysaccharide (CS-F10) from the Cultured Mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis. Kiho T, Ookubo K, Usui S, et al. Biol Pharm Bull. Sep1999;22(9):966-70.
18) Anti-hyperglycemic activity of natural and fermented in rats with diabetes induced by nicotinamide and streptozotocin. Lo HC, Hsu TH, Tu ST, Lin KC. Am J Chin Med. 2006;34(5):819-32.
19) Hypoglycemic activity of polysaccharide, with antioxidant, isolated from cultured Cordyceps mycelia. Li SP, Zhang GH, Zeng Q, Huang ZG, Wang YT, Dong TT, Tsim KW. Phytomedicine. 2006 Jun;13(6):428-33.
20) Cordycepin Suppresses Expression of Diabetes Regulating Genes by Inhibition of Lipopolysaccharide-induced Inflammation in Macrophages. Shin S, Lee S, Kwon J, Moon S, Lee S, Lee CK, Cho K, Ha NJ, Kim K. Immune Netw. 2009 Jun;9(3):98-105.
21) Inhibitive Effect of Cordyceps sinensis on Experimental Hepatic Fibrosis and its Possible Mechanism- Liu YK, Shen W. Department of Gastrointerology, the Second Affiliated Hosptial, Chongqing University of Medicial Sciences, Chongqing 400010, Chinga World J Gastroenterol. 2003. 2003 Mar;9(3):529-33.
22) Dynamical Influence of Cordyceps sinensis on the Activity of Hepatic Insulinase of Experimental Liver Cirrhosis-Zhang X, Liu YK, Shen W, Shen DM. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2004 Beb;3(1):99-101.
23) Wong KL, So EC, Chen CC, Wu RS, Huang BM: Regulation of steroidogenesis by Cordyceps sinensis mycelium extracted fractions with (hCG) treatment in mouse Leydig cells. Arch Androl. 2007 Mar-Apr;53(2):75-7
24) Hsu CC, Huang YL, Tsai SJ, Sheu CC, Huang BM: In vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of Cordyceps sinensis on testosterone production in mouse Leydig cells. Life Sci. 2003 Sep 5;73(16):2127-36.